Shubman Gill has been impressive as a back-up opener in Tests. Every time an opportunity came his way, he grabbed it with both hands, prompting veterans and game pundits to debate whether it was time for him to replace one of the primary options, KL Rahul. As the debate continues amid India to confirm their final XI for the opening Test match against Australia in Nagpur, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has given his verdict on Gill’s selection in the playing XI.
There are two places India can fit Gill in the line-up – either he can partner captain Rohit Sharma in his usual spot at the top of the batting order or serve as a temporary replacement for the injured Shreyas Iyer in the middle order.
Gill has been in sensational form of late, scoring four hundreds in the last seven innings for India, including a record double century. And all those strikes came in white-ball cricket, but it would be hard to ignore the talent who is being hailed as the rightful successor to Virat Kohli.
Speaking to a select group of journalists at a press conference organized by Star Sports, Shastri recalled Gill’s “world class” knock of 91 at the Gabba in 2021. He admitted that Gill will certainly be in the final 12 for the Nagpur opener, with his inclusion subject to conditions.
“I do not forget Gill, Shubman Gill. I will be keeping a close eye on Shubman Gill the day before the game starts to see the conditions. So if I have to announce 12, Gill won’t be far. Don’t forget the last two innings he played against Australia – he batted beautifully in Melbourne when India won; and at the Gabba it was his innings that really got the game going. That 91 in the second innings was world class,” said the 60-year-old. In his 25 Test innings, Gill opened 24 times, scoring 689 runs with a ton and four fifties.
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